The Test Ends, Jiraiya... You Bastard!

After Qi Luna's team's first combat test, the Third Training Ground was a complete mess.

The dust kicked up during the fight had been entirely blown away by repulsion, revealing Nagato in the center, panting heavily in Qi Luna's arms.

His face was pale, clearly exhausted by the battle. His Rinnegan held a dazed, weary look, as if he had overused his power.

Konan supported Yahiko, whose chakra was partially sealed, and looked at the training ground Nagato had wrecked beyond recognition. She still felt shaken.

A few coughs came from the woods nearby. Jiraiya dusted himself off, brushed away the leaves, and emerged from behind a fallen tree.

He looked rather disheveled. His red coat had been slashed in several places by branches, but his eyes were unusually bright, even excited, as he stared intently at Nagato.

"Jiraiya, are you hurt?"

Seeing Jiraiya filthy from head to toe, Qi Luna found it strangely amusing. Her honey-sweet lips couldn't resist teasing him.

"Hahaha! I'm fine. Good thing I summoned the Power Toad in time to cushion the blow. Otherwise, I would've made a complete fool of myself!"

Jiraiya laughed, wiped a bit of dust from the corner of his mouth, and straightened his clothes, doing his best to look unhurt and strike a pose as if everything had been under control.

"Kid, Nagato, that power of yours... That instinct and decisiveness you showed when you were pushed to the brink and had to protect your friends! Good! Very good! Excellent!"

"It's a shame Qi Luna is better suited to be your teacher than I am. Otherwise, I'd really want to take you all on as my students!"

His gaze swept across the three, still shaken from the fight, before settling on Qi Luna, who was holding Nagato, checking him over, and replenishing his chakra. His expression was complicated and wistful, tinged with envy, regret, and disappointment—almost like a pie chart...

Qi Luna didn't answer right away. She simply rested one hand lightly against Nagato's chest and sent a gentle, life-filled stream of chakra into his body, easing his fatigue and the discomfort caused by chakra depletion.

Only after confirming that Nagato's body had returned to normal did Qi Luna look at Jiraiya and give him a slight nod. A knowing look and barely perceptible relief shone in her pale blue eyes.

"Although the time's not up yet, I'll count the test as passed. The fact that you managed to fight the legendary Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, to this extent is proof enough of your strength."

"But, Sensei, didn't I just get beaten up? Does that really count as passing?"

Yahiko was puzzled. As far as he was concerned, he hadn't done anything worth praising in today's test.

First, Qi Luna had blocked his attack and casually tossed him like a weapon, knocking Nagato over. Then all he did was take one utterly ordinary hand chop from Jiraiya. And even after he used Uzumaki Style Taijutsu, he still couldn't land a hit on Jiraiya. Instead, Jiraiya sealed his chakra, leaving him unable to move properly for a while.

"But didn't Yahiko use Taijutsu to buy his friends time to form Hand Seals and perform their jutsu? And just now, even though he could barely move, he still desperately tried to catch Konan and protect her from getting hurt. That was really impressive and very manly!"

Qi Luna looked at her somewhat airheaded little brother with a gentle smile. It was quickly replaced by a mischievous grin.

"So Yahiko has to be a man and tough it out next~"

"Five Elements Release!"

As she spoke, Qi Luna's hand, which was glowing with chakra of all five natures, slammed into Yahiko!

"Blargh—!"

An indescribable discomfort swept through Yahiko's body at once, as if an army were stampeding through his stomach. Pain shot through his internal organs, and sour stomach fluid surged uncontrollably up his throat. It erupted from his mouth like a volcano!

Konan, who had been supporting Yahiko, watched this and couldn't help twitching the corner of her mouth.

"Qi Luna, you're still as mean as ever..."

"What can I do? He got hit by a sealing jutsu. It had to be undone sooner or later, so I figured I'd teach him a lesson. Let's see if he'll still charge in on nothing but hot-blooded bravado when he faces a strong enemy. It's not as if I never taught him how to counter opponents!"

Qi Luna shrugged, doing her best to look innocent in front of her little sister, as if everything she'd done had been for Yahiko's own good.

"Well, since everyone's fine, I'll leave you to it. This immortal has plenty to do as Jonin Commander..."

As he spoke, Jiraiya turned to leave, as if he had made up his mind about something!

"Leaving already, Jiraiya? Why not stay and have a meal with us? I'll treat everyone to barbecue~"

Watching Jiraiya prepare to leave, Qi Luna recalled what her Shadow Clone had seen earlier. She called out to stop him, but there wasn't a trace of sincerity on her face—only a devious grin!

"No, no! You guys go ahead. It's your team's dinner, and I'm an outsider. I'd just get in the way, so I'll pass! Maybe next time. Next time!"

At Qi Luna's "invitation," Jiraiya didn't dare pause for even a moment. His brisk walk turned into a jog, and then he even used the Body Flicker Technique, rushing out of the training ground as if he had something terribly important to do...

"Why did Jiraiya leave in such a hurry? Did something happen in the village? Did we take up too much of his time?"

Watching Jiraiya's rapidly retreating figure disappear, Yahiko asked curiously. He was also a little touched, thinking that Jiraiya had been so busy and still kindly made time to test their team. He really was amazing!

"Not really. But, Yahiko, you sure are innocent..."

Qi Luna thought for a moment. Remembering the comical grimace on Jiraiya's face after Nagato's Shinra Tensei had sent him flying, she couldn't help finding it funny.

He was trying to preserve his image in front of the younger generation, so he gritted his teeth and smiled through the pain in front of Nagato and the others? Hah, Jiraiya... you bastard!

"Was it because of my Rinnegan ability? Was Jiraiya hurt?"

Nagato asked bluntly.

"Ah, if you know, don't say it out loud. Jiraiya just cares about appearances. Keep it to yourselves and don't go telling everyone. And when you see him again, try not to bring it up."

"That's enough. Let's tidy up, then head to Yakiniku Q for dinner! You can't stay this skinny. People will think our family can't afford to eat!"

Qi Luna waved a hand and laughed it off.

Konan looked puzzled.

"But aren't ninja supposed to stay in shape? Doesn't that make it easier to carry out missions?"

Qi Luna retorted with a perfectly straight face.

"Not at all! Isn't your big brother Yoshimaru chubby? He still became a Special Jōnin, didn't he? And he has a great mission completion rate, too!"

Yahiko furrowed his brow, as if something didn't quite add up.

"Isn't Big Brother Yoshimaru like that because he's training in the Akimichi Clan's secret techniques? We..."

Without getting bogged down in the subject, Qi Luna started to distract the three kids.

"Fine, fine~"

"Don't worry about the details~"

"Let's hurry to Yakiniku Q! The last one there has to cook the meat!"

And so Qi Luna and the three kids chatted back and forth as they ran and played, heading back toward Konoha beneath the evening glow...